For the first time, Socrates pointed to the distinction between soul and body. He defined the soul as the mind, which is the beginning of the divine. It is in ancient times that the development of psychology begins. Socrates defended the idea of the immortality of the soul. So for the first time there has been a movement towards an idealistic understanding of this substance.
This understanding reaches the highest development in Plato. He created the doctrine of "ideas" that are unchanging, eternal, without occurrence and not implemented in any substance. Matter, unlike them, is nothing, nothingness, which, when combined with any idea, can become a thing. An integral part of the idealist theory is the doctrine of the soul, which acts as a connecting principle between ideas and things. The soul is part of the world spirit, it is born before the body.
The development of psychology did not stand still. In the XVII century, a different methodological setting appeared - empiricism. If previously dominated by knowledge oriented to authority and tradition, then from now on it is perceived as something dubious. Significant discoveries and insights have occurred that reflect the latest changes in the system of scientific thinking. Psychology on the centuries-old historical path of development was considered the science of the soul, consciousness, psyche, behavior.
With each of these terms, both the substantive content and the confrontation of opposing views are associated. But, despite this, common points of view, general thoughts, at the intersection of which new different ideas arose, were preserved. The periods of development of psychology were often distinguished in those times when any significant changes took place in the life of society, or in the related sciences - philosophy, medicine - new knowledge appeared, giving a reference point for changing previously existing views. For example, in the Middle Ages, new psychological concepts were due to the great triumph of mechanics and mathematics. The first psychological concept, created taking into account mathematics and mechanics, belonged to R. Descartes. He regarded the body as an automatic system that works mechanically. The development of psychology in a slightly different direction was continued by F. Bacon, who strove to clear the human mind of the prejudices and superstitions that obscure it. It was he who owned the famous saying: "Knowledge is power." The scientist called for an experimental study of the world, a leading role in solving this issue, assigning experiment, rather than contemplation and observation.
A person gains power over nature, skillfully asks her questions and tears secrets from her with the help of specially invented tools.
The development of psychology in the XVII century is revealed in the following doctrine designs:
- about a living body as a mechanical system in which there is no place for any hidden qualities or soul;
- the doctrine of consciousness as the inherent ability of each individual with the help of internal observation to obtain the most accurate knowledge of their mental states;
- the doctrine of affects as regulators of behavior embedded in the body that direct a person to what is good for him and avert from that which is harmful;
- the doctrine of the relationship of physiological and mental.
Features of the development of psychology in the XIX and XX century were marked by the emergence of new trends: psychoanalysis, behaviorism, humanistic psychology. The rapid development of society and science, as in the Middle Ages, and in the era of antiquity, led to the emergence of views that are different from previously existing. During this period, various branches of psychological science stood out and finally took shape.